Columbia Gas Urges Safe Heating Practices as Winter Cold Returns
ZANESVILLE, OH – While we’ve had small tastes of winter, the brutal cold will eventually return and Columbia Gas wants to make sure you and your family are prepared.
Amanda DePerro, the Senior Communications Specialist with Columbia Gas of Ohio, says one of the biggest things to keep in mind this winter is making sure you only use appliances that are specially designed to warm your home.
She says people often use their stoves or ovens to try to stay warm and it can bring more safety risks than rewards.
“Safety is the most important thing and your oven is used for cooking, your stove is used for cooking, it shouldn’t be used to heat your home.” DePerro said. “This is also a good reminder this time of year to make sure that your natural gas appliances are inspected, they’re working properly.”
DePerro says another appliance people tend to use incorrectly is their space heaters.
She recommends keeping it away from fabrics like blankets or carpet and not running them longer than you need to.
“Using space heaters properly and making sure you are using them in your home in the way that they’re designed to be used.” DePerro said. “I think a good tip is making sure the space heater is staying away from carpeting, making sure you’re not covering it up with blankets or anything that might be flammable nearby, and just making sure that those space heaters are used safely.”
Columbia Gas has a list of qualified contractors available on their website if you’ve been looking at getting some service done to your heating appliances.
